Poems by Ivan Djeparoski 

THE VILLAGES OF MOUNT ATHOS
 
 
                                 “The monasteries of Mount Athos
                                  are villages of the Holy Mother of God”
 
                                                              Domentian of Chilandar
 
The bigger
the cities
we come from
to Mount Athos
the greater
our loneliness.
 
And here the monasteries
wait for us –
the serene villages of the Mother of God,
the flowery meadows
with blossoming trees.
 
The fragrant alleys
of monks
who piously,
in peaceful prayer,
sing like
heavenly birds.
 
The bigger
the cities
we come from
to Mount Athos
the greater the joy
to meet the heavenly citizens.
 
 
Translated from Macedonian by Zoran Anchevski
 
 
 
 
BIRD WATCHING
 
Times are a-changing.
New rituals were established
and new myths of
digital worlds and of
bird watching
through binoculars.
 
Dedicated local clubs
organize ornithology tours
with well-learned guides.
The departure is before dawn
perfect positions are sought for
in gorges, or swamps.
 
Besides transport the costs include:
1 sandwich,
1 bottle of water (0.5 l.)
1 bottle of wine (0.1875 l.)
1 piece of fruit.
 
The only thing which is not
guaranteed is
whether birds of prey
or vultures could be seen
as it depended
on various factors.
 
Nuoviriti, nuovimiti.
 
Translated from Macedonian by Zoran Anchevski

Note:
New Rituals, New Myths, a title of a book by the Italian aesthetician Gillo Dorfles.  

Ivan Djeparoski (1958) – poet, aesthetician, essayist, critic and translator. He has authored eight poetry books. His poetry has been published into numerous foreign languages. He works at the Faculty of Philosophy, Ss. Cyril and Methodius University in Skopje, as a professor of Aesthetics and Philosophy of Culture. He served as the Head of the Institute of Philosophy and the secretary of the Macedonian PEN Centre. Ivan Djeparoski is a recipient of the Miladinov Brothers Award at Struga Poetry Evenings Festival (2016) and of many other literary awards. He is a member of the Macedonian Writers’ Association.

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